Refrigeration



April 7, 1942.

Patented Apr. 7, 1942 UNITED s r-AT Es AT nnrmasaarion Robert S.,'1aylor, Evansville; Ind assignor to Servel, Inc., New York, N.

Delaware i Y.,-a corporation of Application November 22, 1939, semi No. 305.571

" 19' Claims.' (01. 62-5) My invention relates to refrigeration, and more particularly to'a refrigeratio'n system of the kind containing an auxiliary agent or inert gas into which refrigerant evaporates.

It is an object of theinvention to provide'an improvement in systems of this type for rapidly defrosting a cooling. element or evaporator by stopping circulation of the auxiliary agent or inert gas in a gas circuit. I accomplish this by collecting liquid in an accumulator and connecting the latter to other parts of the system in'such a manner that it can be bodily raised, to cause now of liquid therefrom into the gas circuit to block off and stop circulation 'of the auxiliary agent or inert gas, wherebydefrosting is instigated. Ihe accumulator maybe so arranged that, when defrosting is substantially terminated, the accumulator is automatically lowered to permit removal of liquid from the gas circuit and again permit circulation of auxiliary agent or inert -gas.-,'I'he liquid collected .in the accumulator may be condensate .formed in :a gas heat exchanger inthe gas circuit, and, after the accumlator is filled to a predetermined level so that it is capable of stopping gas circulation when raised; the condensate may be conducted to .theabsorption liquid circuit of the refrigeration system.

The invention, together with the above and other objects and advantages thereof,-wi11 be better understood from the following descripgrammatically illustrates a refrigeration system embodying the invention.

In'the drawing I have shown the invention embodied in an absorption refrigeration system of a uniform'pressure type containing a pressure equalizing gas or auxiliary agent. A system of this type includes a generator l0, condenser ll, cooling element or evaporator l2 and an absorber 13 which are'inter-connected in amanus: well known in the art and which will now be briefly described. The system contains a solution of refrigerant in absorption liquid, such as ammonia in water, for example, and also an auxiliary agent or inert gas. such ashydrogen.

'The generator I0 is heated in any suitable manner, as by a gas burner H, for example. which is supplied with suitable combustible gas through a conduit [5. By heating' generator l0 refrigerant vapor is expelled out of solution and flows upwardthrough a standpipe l6 an air er part of the absorber I3.

cooled rectifier n; and a conduit" l8 into condenser II in which itis liquefied. Liquid refrigerantflows from condenser l I through a con-.

duit is into the cooling element or evaporator 12 I disposed in thermally insulated space 20.

Liquid refrigerant in cooling element l,2 evapcrates and difluses into the inert gas' whereby vheatis' abstracted from the surroundings to produce' a refrigerating efiect. The inert gas enters the lower end of cooling element I! through a conduit 2|. The resulting'rich -gasmixture of refrigerant vapor and inert gas iormedjin cool ing element. l2 flows from the upper end thereof through a conduit 22 inner passage 2; of .a gas. heat exchanger 24, and a conduit 25 into the low- In absorber I3 the rich vgas mixture flows counter-current to downwardly flowing weak absorption liquid which enters through a conduit 23. The absorption liquid absorbs refrigere ant vapor from the inert gas; and inert gas weak in-refrigerant flows from absorber [3 through a conduitll, outer passage 23 or gas heat exchanger 24, and conduit 2| into the lower part of cooling element l3.

Absorption liquid enriched in rerrigerant g flows from the lower part of absorber llthrough a conduit-29, outer'passage of a liquid heat exchanger and conduit 3linto generator l0.

Liquid is raisedin the generator through a tube.

32 by vapor-liquid lift action and flows back to the generator through standpipe It. The refrigerant vapor expelled out of solution in generator III and flowing upwardly in standpipe 16, together with refrigerant vapor entering the latter through tube 32, flows upwardly through standpipe l3, rectifier l1 and conduit ll into the condenser H, as explained above. I

The absorption liquid from which refrigerant has been expelled flows from generator 'lll through a conduit 33, innerpassage ofiiquid heat exchanger 30, and conduit 26 to the upper partof absorber I3. This circulation ofv absorption liquid results from the raising of liquid by vaporliquid lift action in tube 32. Heat liberated with absorption of refrigerant vapor in absorber I3 is transferred to a cooling medium which circulates through a coil 34 arranged in thermal exchange relationwith the absorber. As shown, coil34 is connected by con-., duits 35 and 36 to a looped-coil 31. The coils 34 and 31 and inter-connecting conduits form a closed circuit which is partly filled-witha volatile liquid that vaporizes in coil 3! and liquefies in coil 31. The liquid evaporating in coil 34 takes up heat from absorber l3 and the vapor The lower end of condenser II is connected by a conduit 38, vessel 30 and conduit 40 to the gas.

circuit, as at the upperfend of gas heat exchanger 28,- .forexample. Byconncctingvgthe vessel suite the euuet'end er condenser and to the gas circuit, any inert gas which may pass through the condenser can flow into the gas in circuit. Refrigerant vapor not liquefied m t e condenser flows into vessel 3! to displace inert gas therefrom into the gas circuit. Ifhe effect of forcing gas into the gas vcircuit in this'manner;

is to increase the total pressure through the sys-:

1 liquefying in coil 31 gives up heat to surrounding;

element ii the temperaturethereof rises above the freezing temperature of water and very rapid melting of the frost or ice is eilected.

. In accordance with this invention, in order to v eflect defrostingin the manner just explained, I

provide a liquid accumulator 'lhe lower part of accumulator 44 is connectedabyajlooped coil 45 and'a conduit 46 to the extreme lower end of the outer passage 28 of gas heatexchanger 24. A

vertical conduit t1 extendsinto the upperpart of accumulator and is connected at its lower end i to a looped coil 48. ,fIhe upper end of looped coil tem to insure condensation; ofrefrigerant apor in condenser ll.

During normal operation of the system; refrig-f erant fluid, inert gas, and absorption liquid circulate in the manner described above whereby 5 cooling element l2 produces a refrigerating-reflect.

to the diflerence in'speciilcfweight of thecolumn of rich gas flowing from the upper-end of' cooling: element "to thewlower'paltof absorber ll,

the column of gas weak injreirilgerant and flowing-fro 'rn-j-the u r pflrt, 1o; {absorber if to the iewespsn of coollngelemenH Due to thedii i'erence in peciflcweight r the columns'of-rlch and weal: gas, therefore, a 7 force is developed within the system for causing circulation of gas in' the inertgascircuit." e- 1 The burner I4 is controllediln response to at temperature condition, ail'ected by cooling element I; As shown, a control valve" ll is con nectedinjconduit 15." The valve- 4! is connected by' af'c'apillary'tube to a thermal bulb 43 which is arranged-in goodthermal contact v'ivitl'i'coolingf element l2. The tube and bulb ll form part: of an, expansible fluid-thermostat containing a 7 suitable volatile fluidforcontrolling valve. (I and hencethe flow of gas to burner Ill. when the cooling element It tends to fall below a 'predeten minedtemperature-the expansible fluid thermostat operates valve ll to reduce theflow of gas to burner V I4. Conversely, when the cooling 1e1ement l2tends to rise above the predet'ermined temperature. theexpanslble fluidthermostat op-' Inert gas or hydrogen circulates continuously n the gas circuit including co li g element I2 and absorber i3. This circulatio'n'oi' inert gas isdue 48 isccon'nected to conduit 25 atan elevation below the upperendjoi conduit 41. The upper end of accumulator is connected by another looped c'oilfil'to the outer-passage 28 of gasheat' exchanger 24 at an elevation above the upper end i of conduit The looped coils 4s, n and are ilexible'with respect tothe other'parts of the system to which they are connected,1so thataccuniulator 44 can be raised and lowered-.- Raising and lowering of an accumulator may be flected by suitable mechanism many desired manner. As shown, a

bracket secured to accumulator 44 is provided with an: elongated opening 5 to receive afpin" I! ilxed tothe outer end of alever l3 pivotedat i4 to asuitable supporthwhen the handl 85 of leveruii is moved downwardly; the accumulator 4| andbracke't III are raisedlwhereby a catch 66 formed at the upper end of bracketil engages a catch 5'! -formedlati the lower end-of a lever-58' pivoted at to a suitable support. (A spring Ill keeps the sltion. v a

A pin 6| bears against the upper end of lever ll. Thepin ii is fixed to theouter end of an'ex pansibleand contractible bellows 'flwhichis se-' curediat 63 to a suitable support. a The bellows is:connected vby a capilla'rytube to thecapillary tube 42 whereby the: same expansible fluid;

' thermostat thatfoperatescontrol .valve ll also -ooperates'.themechanism just described to controlthe defrosting; periods, aswill presently be During operation of the system condensate ac cumulates in the'extreme lower end-0f the outer erates valve 4 win r e m flow 841 burner .1 V e The temperature at which evaporation of re frlgerant takes place in cooling element lzfigde pendent upo'nthe-partial pressure of refrigerant vapor, normal operation of the's'ystem, inert gas rich in refrigerant vapor and flowing from cooling element [2 is'constantly' replaced by inert'gas weak in refrigerantvapor, whereby. the partial pressure .of refrigerant vapor in cooling element I2 is such that evaporation of liquid;

takes place at, a temperature 'below the freezing temperatureof water. ,lwiththe coo nfl element l2 operated at this low temperature, a layer of frost or ice is-iormedthereon dueto conis densation of water vapor from'airflowing in conpassage 28 0f gas heatf 'exchanger 24. This condensate=flows through conduit 46 and looped-coil l5 'into' accumulator iwhereby the-latter I becomes filled with liquid; .When" the liquidlevel in accumulator 4.41r.eachesthe upper end of'con- .duit U, liquid flows through the latter and looped coil 48 into conduit llandthence into thelower part of absorber l3. Whenaccumulator 4! is in the lower position shownin the drawing, there-. fore condensate is .drained from the extreme lower end oi'the outer passage .28 of gas heat errchanger and conductedto the absorption liquid circuitln the lowerpart'ofabsorber II. While such draininguofycondensate is being effected from the lower end of gas heat exchanger 24, the

accumulated or collected liquid is at the level I and thelower'en'd of conduit 21 is in open and V unrestricted'communi cation with the outer pas-r tactwith the surfaces of the cooling element; i

In order to melt the layer of frost or ice formed? on the surfaceof cooling'elem'ent l2, liquid in the system is caused to flow mw the-gas circuit to stop :thecirculation ofathe-inert gas. when this" is donethe flow ofinert gasf and refrigerant vaporffrom cooling element II-stop's and the partial pressure of refrigerant vapor in the cooling sage 28 of the gas heat exchanger. Under-these conditionsnormalgcirculation of inert gas takes: place in the gas circuit in-the manner explained above. i

. i when aflayer oiffrostor ice has formed on cooling'-e lemeiit-- l2 and "it is desired to effect defrosting,the handle 58 of lever 53 is pressed downwardly against t'he action of spring to catches and 5l inthei r' engaged pomove accumulator 44 upwardly and raise 'the liquid therein to the level II indicated in'the drawing. When this is done liquid flows into the extreme lower end ofthe outer passage 28 of gas heat exchanger 24 to form a liquid seal and block flow of inert gas returning through conduit 21 from absorber l3 to cooling element [2. When the circulation'of inert gas in the gas circuit is stopped in this manner, the temperature of cooling element [2 rises above the freezing temperature of water and'very rapid melting of the frost or ice accumulated on the surfacesof cooling element I2 is effected.

When the accumulator 44 is raised to its upper position by pressing the handle 55 of lever v53 downwardly, the handle 55 may immediatelybe released since the spring 60 holds the catches 56 and 51 in engagement, as explained above. At thebeginning of a defrosting period cooling element I2 is at a temperature below the freezing temperature of water'and the volume of the volatile fluid in theexpansible fluid thermostat is such that spring 60 is able to hold the catches 56 and 51 in engagement against the action of bellows 62. 7

When cooling element -l2'is' substantially defrosted and the temperature of the latter rises above the freezing temperature of water, the volatile fluid in the expansiblej fluid thermostat increases in volume whereby bellows 62 expands and causes lever 58 to'move in a clockwise direction against the action of spring 60 whereby the catches fi and 51 become disengaged. This permits spring- 65 to move the outer end of lever 53 upwardly andcause downward movement of accumulator 44 to its lower position. This permits liquid to drain fronithe extreme lower end of ing said absorber, a vessel, a conduit to drain liquid from a part of said gas circuit into said vessel for accumulation in the latter, and means to withdraw. liquid from said vessel into saidgas circuit to block off circulation of gas therein,

such withdrawal of liquid from said vessel being effected without interfering with the normal flow of liquid in said absorption liquid circuit.

4. A refrigeration system as set forth in claim 3 in which said vessel is vertically movable to cause, withdrawal of liquid therefrom into said gas circuit to block off circulation of gas therein.

5. In a refrigeration system as set forth in claimB, a conduit for draining liquid from said vessel'to said absorption liquid circuit after the liquid reaches a predetermined level in said vessel. I

6. In an absorption refrigeration system having a'gascircuit including an evaporator and an absorber and 'an absorption liquid circuit. in-

' .cluding the absorber, a vessel,a conduit conthe outer passage 28 of gasheat exchanger 24 until the liquid again falls to level I and'conduit 21'is again in unrestricted communication with the lower end of gas heat exchanger 24. When defrosting-is substantially terminated, therefore, the accumulator 4-4 is automatically lowered to open the liquid seal in the gas circuit and again permit normal circulation of inert gas therein.

The looped coil- 49 connecting the vapor space of accumulator 44 and the outer passage 28 of p gas heat exchanger 24 serves as a vent so that the operation of burner 14, the bellows 62 may I be connected by capillary tube 64 to a separate thermal bulb in thermal exchange relation with cooling element 12. In such case the bellows 52 will operate in the same manner explained above to automatically terminate defrosting of cooling element-l2.

While a single embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, such variations and modifications are contemplated which'fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention, as pointed, out in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an absorption refrigeration system having a gas circuit including an evaporator and an absorber, an accumulatorfor collecting liquid in the system, and av flexible conduit connecting said accumulator and a part of said gas circuit to cause l quid to enter into said gas circuit-and nected to conduct liquid from a part-.of the system into said vessel for accumulationlin the latter, structure embodied in thesystem whereby liquid can be withdrawn from said vessel into a part of said gas circuit through which absorption liquid ,does not circulate to block .oficirculation of gasin said gas circuit, and means responsive to a condition in the systemfor returning liquid from said gas circuit to said vessel to permit circulation of inert gas in the gas circuit,

7. A method of refrigeration which includes evaporating refrigerantfluid in a place of evapoe ration in the presence'of circulating auxiliary agent to produce a refrigerating effect, draining and collecting condensate formed in the path of circulation of said auxiliary agent, and causing increase in temperature at the place of evaporation by utilizing the collected condensate to form a liquid seal to stop circulation of the auxiliary agent.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 in which the liquid seal is removed upon increase in a temperature condition affected by the place of evaporation.

9. A method as set forth in claim 7 in which collected condensate is raised to form the liquid seal.

10. In an absorption refrigeration system having an inert gas circuit including an evaporator and an absorber and an absorption liquid circuit including said absorber, the inert gas circuit including a gas heat exchanger having a first passage for conducting inert gas from said' vent. end all or... mini means being senilow into said and s 'bieiopermitraisingor said vessel tocauseliquid setiort hin claim lmmechsnism iorraisingsaid and retainin: the'lotter'iniitsraised 1231a an absorption as set'iortlr in clnim 10, mechanism for'rtisin: said on reteinin: tbelatt'er m n mums- 9 r s is condition or said iev'aporetor tolccuss' '01 said. as circuit in tfl quld'state. e i

mit melting. or mm on E'said Mtor,

15. neting' a gas circuit including? in evaporatcrjnnd an gu -bet, n partereeeivlnz i i 1.5.1.; the sas'circuitt;

i 90 m on an? condition nflcoted by 'psid moon or or Mo removal offliquidiromfsaid to sold an 'circuit-bblock oi! moon-arm therein circuit.

7 cause melting oi. any'girost formed on jsaid evaporator, andmeans responsiveto a substan-; defrosted condition oresaidevaporatorjto rav Q blown! M 14cm a rezrimunegm mmdqm circuit including on evaporator subject to tormetionotfrostor ice, a m

sndnn absorptioni-liquid circuit'including the circuitsnd edspted;,tof-receive11iquid in the system; muuisfto" csus'e removal o! liquidtrom said port to mnsmpz ma m circuitasto' block 01! circulation otigas therein and permit meltinz ofifrost on snidevnporntor, and means responsive to a substantially defrosted condition ond coll'eotinz' a quantity of such drained liquid,

aflexibk conduit connecting said w hereby; when-said put is raised.

liquid flows from said as inf-a gas circuit includingfnn evimorator' and an absorber absorption liquid circuit inodaptcd .to"receivc "liquidgandstruoture embodied in liquidfcan vbe reincvedeirom said port therein, being connected id ni inisaid system that a definite quantity used of liquid is always sezrentedftbereby .iromsthe 5 the oblorntionliquid circuit (11111115 operation of the system. n i

18. In a retrigeration system having a: circuit includingian evaporator and on absorber absorber, a port oislid as circuitbe'ins sdapted to holdiliquldrin a'mnnner to cut oil circulation oi'ga's therein, means for drainin; liquid i'rom said part. during normal operation or the system and means operable to cause flow ot the collected of said evaporatortocause removal of blocking 1 fluid fromssid sascircuit in 'aliquidjstate. j

16; In are'frigera'tin: system having it gas em cuit'includinren evanorator subject to forms 7 tion of frost or ice, a ut connectedto'said gas I circuit and adapted to receive jcondensate tormedin said system, means-to cause removal v V iii-the 'gas' circuit. '0! condensatefrom said?! tosaid gag i t 45 Y I toblock ofl circulation oi :a's therein and ie'rv'v iquid, into said to blockoi! circulation of gas injthexas circuit.

19.,1n:s' refrilerations'ystemss set forth in claim l8, :means responsivetoiincre'ase in'tem-I persture to cause i i mnflon' or draining of liquid {min saidpart s; "Tm-m topermit circulationoi as 

